The Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP) supports the Recovery core capability and mission area as defined in the National Preparedness Goal. It accomplishes this by assisting individuals and communities in recovering from the challenging effects of natural and human-caused disasters through the provision of community-based outreach and psycho-educational services.

The CCP goals are to:
Reach large numbers of people affected by disasters through face-to-face outreach to shelters, homes, and other locations.
• Assess the emotional needs of survivors and make referrals to traditional behavioral health services when necessary.
• Identify tangible needs and link survivors to community resources and disaster relief services.
• Provide emotional support, education, basic crisis counseling, and connection to familial and community support systems.
• Train and educate CCP staff and other community partners about disaster reactions, appropriate interventions, and CCP services.
• Develop partnerships with local disaster and other organizations.
• Work with local stakeholders to promote community resilience and recovery.
• Collect and evaluate data to ensure quality services and justify program efforts.
• Leave behind a permanent legacy of improved coping skills, educational and resource materials, and enhanced community linkages.

Types of Assistance (060):

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions (070):

The Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP) provides supplemental funding to States, U.S. Territories and Federally recognized tribes for technical assistance and training as well as short-term crisis counseling services to individuals impacted by a Presidentially-declared major disaster that includes Individual Assistance. CCP services involve the counseling goals of assisting disaster survivors in understanding their current situations and reactions, mitigating additional stress, assisting survivors in reviewing their options, promoting the use or development of coping strategies, providing emotional support and encouraging linkages with other individuals and agencies who may help survivors recover to their pre-disaster level of functioning. The CCP is comprised of the Immediate Services Program (ISP) and the Regular Services Program (RSP). The Immediate Services Program grant provides 60 days of services from the declaration date and enables the State or local agency to respond to the immediate behavioral health needs of people affected by the disaster. The Regular Services Program grant provides up to nine months of crisis counseling, outreach, consultation and education services to people affected by a disaster. Funding for the ISP and RSP programs is considered separate and distinct as these are two different grants.

Eligibility Requirements (080)

Applicant Eligibility (081):

States are eligible for grants. If the Governor determines, during an assessment of the need for crisis counseling services, that because of unusual circumstances or serious conditions within the State or local mental health network, the State cannot carry out the crisis counseling program, he/she may identify a public or private mental health agency or organization to carry out the program or request the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Regional Director to identify, with assistance of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), such an agency or organization.

Beneficiary Eligibility (082):

In order to be eligible for services under this program, an individual must be a resident of the designated disaster area or must have been in the designated area at the time the disaster occurred.

Credentials/Documentation (083):

Grant awards will be determined in accordance with OMB Circulars A-102 for State and local governments. States are eligible for grants. If the Governor determines, during an assessment of the need for crisis counseling services, that because of unusual circumstances or serious conditions within the State or local mental health network, the State cannot carry out the crisis counseling program, he/she may identify a public or private mental health agency or organization to carry out the program or request the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Regional Administrator to identify, with assistance of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), such an agency or organization. In order to be eligible for services under this program, an individual must be a resident of the designated disaster area or must have been in the designated area at the time the disaster occurred. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process (090)

Preapplication Coordination (091):

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedures (092):

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Application for Federal assistance for the Immediate Services Program must be submitted by the State to FEMA no later than 14 days after the Presidential declaration. Application for Federal assistance for the Regular Services Program must be submitted by the State to FEMA, along with a copy to SAMHSA CMHS, no later than 60 days after the Presidential declaration.

Award Procedure (093):

Immediate Services Program applications are reviewed by FEMA program staff in consultation with SAMHSA CMHS. Grant award is provided by FEMA to the State Emergency Management Agency. Regular Services Program applications are reviewed by FEMA with formal recommendation from SAMHSA CMHS. Grant funds are provided by FEMA to SAMHSA CMHS for award to the State's mental health agency.

Deadlines (094):

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time (095):

Refer to announcement or application guidance for further information.

Appeals (096):

Immediate Services Program - The State may appeal the Regional Administrator's decision in writing within 60 days of the date of notification of the application decision. The State may further appeal the Regional Administrator's decision to the Assistant Administrator, Recovery, within 60 days of the date of the Regional Administrator's notification of the application decision. Regular Services Program - The State may appeal FEMA's decision in writing within 60 days of the date of notification of the decision.

Renewals (097):

Not Applicable.

Assistance Consideration (100)

Formula and Matching Requirements (101):

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
This program has no matching requirements.
This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance (102):

Refer to program guidance. Awards are subject to the Cash Management Improvement Act for payment and/or reimbursement of expenditures. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Payment based on Project need.

Post Assistance Requirements (110)

Reports (111):

Grantee is required to submit quarterly financial and performance reports. Quarterly “Progress Reports” must include the progress of each sub-grant award. Final financial and program reports are due 90 days after the end of the grant’s period of performance. Refer to Program Guidance. SF-425 is required on a quarterly basis and 90 days after the project end date. Refer to program guidance. No progress reports are required. The Quarterly Report must include an interim budget expenditure report. A final expenditure report showing expenditure of funds by category and budget line is also required. Refer to program guidance for details. Refer to program guidance.

Audits (112):

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. These audits are due to the cognizant Federal agency, submitted through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse, not later than 9 months after the end of the grantees fiscal year.

Records (113):

Grant records shall be retained for a period of 3 years from the day the recipient submits its final expenditure report. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit, or other action involving the records has been started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records must be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all issues which arise from it, or until the end of the regular 3-year period, whichever is later. Grant records include financial and program/progress reports, support documents, statistical records, and other documents that support the activity and/or expenditure of the recipient or sub-recipient under the award.